Relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare uses insightful language and structures his drama text immensely well, to entertain and engage the reader to the characters and show there relationships. Shakespeare uses prose throughout his drama text to help connect with the viewer. We also see a constant power struggle between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth in their relationship, this is clearly portrayed in Shakespeare’s script and Polanski's film adaptation of Macbeth, and however their relationships differ in both. In Act 1 scene 5, Lady Macbeth describes Macbeth to be “full of the milk of human kindness” Shakespeare uses this phrase to acknowledge Macbeths virtues, however lady Macbeth cunningly uses his kindness as a fault of his own, as she shays that he is “too full” of kindness.
After the witches have vanished and Macbeth is proclaimed thane of Cawdor the actors should start hiding things from each other and make this noticeable by starting to stand further apart. At this point Macbeth and Banquo do not trust each other as much anymore we can tell this because Macbeth starts speaking aside and talking to himself and the audience. 'Glamis and thane of Cawdor: the greatest is behind', This suggests that he does not trust Banquo as much anymore because he is talking to himself, which show he is going mad, and it sounds like he is plotting to do something. Although Macbeth is starting not to trust Banquo, Banquo still is loyal to Macbeth. 'The instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles - to betrays in deepest consequence' Banquo is being a friend and trying to warn Macbeth that the witches were trying to make Macbeth do something bad.
This shows the context where marriage would be used to enhance a families place in society rather than for love. Being in the first scene, structurally, this suggests to the audience that the play is going to have a running theme of disruption because straight away we are introduced to the fact that there are contrasts in the characters desires. This is enhanced by the fact that Egeus disrupts Theseus and Hippolyta to tell them of his daughter’s disobedience, which provides a visual display to the audience that the upcoming events are not going to run smoothly. The theme of disruption extends to include the supernatural world in act 2: scene 1 which suggests a lack of hope for the human world because those with powers are unable to live in equilibrium. In the argument between Titania and Oberon, Titania says ‘but with thy brawls, thou hast disturbed our sport.’ This shows the disruption in their relationship; the phrase ‘our sport’ showing how close they used to be, behaving in a lively, energetic way which suggests childish behaviour brought about by being in love.
Shakespeare’s portrayal of Desdemona reflects and challenges the role of women in the renaissance period by including the ideas of independence, sex and infidelity. These controversial elements in Shakespeare’s character became opportunities for future composers, such as Orson Wells and Oliver Parker, to portray Desdemona as being reflective of both Shakespeare’s context and their own. Some of the character decisions in Orson Wells’ and Oliver Parker’s ‘Othello’ reflect Shakespeare’s context, and other decisions reflect their own context while opposing Shakespeare’s. Shakespeare has portrayed a typically obedient Elizabethan woman through Desdemona’s actions and her statement “I am obedient”. However, Desdemona is also depicted as aggressive and opposing to Shakespeare’s context through Othello’s story.
Therefore, this essay will give evidence to show that trust is a vital element in Shakespeare’s Macbeth as well as an indispensable motif Shakespeare wants to reveal. Trust in Macbeth is a very important element to push forward the plot development. In other word, trust is an important reason for many deeds of different characters. For example, in Act I Scene VII, after Duncan sleeps in Macbeth’s castle, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plot to murder the king. There is a long monologue of Macbeth: “… He's here in double trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself….” —1.7.15-19 Here, Macbeth tells us the double trust of Duncan.
Women of Othello and Macbeth Women play a vital role in many of William Shakespeare’s plays. In the plays Othello and Macbeth, the female characters are presented as strong and confident individuals who have a major affect on the plot. This was very unusual for the Elizabethan time period, and Shakespeare broke the stereotypical perception of a woman. In Macbeth, Shakespeare introduces the deceitful and frightening Lady Macbeth. She controls the major events of the story by manipulating her husband.
Lady Macbeth says, "What's done is done", which is a famous line round the world. She says this to get Macbeth to act normal and forget his past, live in the present, and be ready for the future, as he was acting erratically due to his guilt and paranoia over murdering Duncan. The word "nothing" is used to entertain and give a lasting effect to the audience. When Macbeth says, "I have a strange infirmity which is nothing," he is actually trying to cover up his guilt and his past to the people around him. The audience realizes that his 'infirmity' is actually because of something important and would cause pandemonium to the people around him.
A similarity between the film and the play is the when Nurse calls from within at the balcony scene in Act II, scene ii. In this scene Nurse speeds along Juliet’s readiness to marry Romeo. By including this in the movie, Zeffirelli is illustrating the important patience theme that Shakespeare portrayed in the play. The patience theme is important to the story because if Romeo and Juliet had taken their relationship slower things might not have been so tragic. In contrast, a difference is when Juliet doesn’t threaten to kill herself with her knife in Friar‘s cell.
Although it is true that Lady Macbeth is a big part of the play and adds a lot of interest, her character is revealed through her unkind attitude with Macbeth, careless feelings towards the lives of others, and her guilty conscience. Lady Macbeth is very pushy when it comes to the murder of Duncan and Macbeth’s hesitations towards it. She gives this comment to Macbeth, “Oh, never shall sun that morrow see! Your face, my Thane, is as a book where men may ready strange matters. To beguile the time, look like the time, bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue.
Power is a theme used by Shakespeare throughout the play Macbeth. The plot involves Macbeth trying to gain more power. At the beginning of the play she enters the stage reading a letter from Macbeth where he makes inquiries that lady Macbeth may rejoice in the greatness that is promised to her as the future queen. The quote ‘My dearest partner of greatness’ is meant that she will become his partner in crime. Her mood at this stage displays a dominant aura therefore she shows a real power over Macbeth throughout the play.